Here Are the 11 Cheapest Electric Vehicles You Can Buy

So you’ve decided to take a gamble on an electric vehicle, but you’d like to keep the ante down for getting into the game. There are lots of good reasons not to spend the kids’ college fund on the fanciest, six-figure EV — namely, sending them to college.

Related: Electric Vehicles: Understanding the Terminology

You might be just looking for an efficient second car for city use or commuting in high occupancy vehicle lanes, where it makes little sense to pay top dollar for 400 miles of range when a 200-mile EV would serve your needs. Or you might have figured out (accurately) that by the time your new EV’s lease or loan is finished, a wider selection of EVs with much improved technology will be available. Or the higher-than-expected cost to install Level 2 home charging, all but essential to owning an EV, might have shrunk your budget for the car itself.

Whatever your reasons, there are EVs available now that won’t break the bank, though they’re generally still more expensive than comparable gasoline vehicles. Note that availability can be relative for EVs. Some are sold only in certain states, while others may require a reservation for delivery weeks or months later.

Below are 11 of the cheapest EVs you can buy, listed by starting price (including destination). The list features all-electric cars only; plug-in hybrid and fuel-cell models are excluded. Prices do not include the federal government’s tax credit, nor any state or local subsidies. Of note, the federal subsidy changes from year-to-year, with guidelines for vehicle eligibility based on battery and materials sourcing becoming stricter each year; read our full explainer here. The IRS also provides a list of automakers and vehicles that are currently eligible for the credit.

Cheapest EVs

1. Nissan Leaf
2. Hyundai Kona Electric
3. Chevrolet Equinox EV
4. Toyota bZ4X
5. Ford Mustang Mach-E
6. Hyundai Ioniq 6
7. Subaru Solterra
8. Kia Niro EV
9. Nissan Ariya
10. Tesla Model 3
11. Lexus RZ

Nissan Leaf

• Starting price: $29,280
• EPA-estimated range: 149-212 miles

The 2025 Nissan Leaf is a small four-door hatchback and was one of the first full EVs available nationwide when it rolled out in the U.S. as a 2011 model. Over the years, it has improved with more range and added safety tech. It also got a longer-range sibling, the Leaf Plus, with a bigger battery. For 2023, the Leaf got some minor styling tweaks, and its lineup was simplified to a standard-range Leaf S and longer-range Leaf SV Plus. Nothing changes for 2025, although it does lose its eligibility for federal EV tax credits.

The cheapest standard-range Leaf S has a 40-kilowatt-hour battery, a modest 147-horsepower electric motor and an EPA-rated 149 miles of range. The interior has few frills, but it does have a standard 8-inch touchscreen with navigation, Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The Leaf SV Plus, meanwhile, has a 60-kWh battery, a significant range boost to 212 miles and a more livable 214-hp motor.

Hyundai Kona Electric

• Starting price: $34,425
• EPA-estimated range: 200-261 miles

This four-door subcompact SUV is mostly similar in styling and interior layout to the gasoline Hyundai Kona: It’s comfortable up front, but tight in the backseat and cargo area. Hyundai redesigned the Kona Electric for 2024, making it longer, wider and taller. The base SE trim gets a 48.6-kWh battery pack and 133-hp electric motor, while the SEL, Limited and new-for-2025 N Line pack a 64.8-kWh battery and 201-hp motor. The Kona Electric’s cheapest SE variant comes with an EPA-estimated range of 200 miles, while higher trims come with a longer-range battery good for an EPA-rated range of up to 261 miles. While sales of the Kona Electric were previously limited to certain states with required zero-emission vehicle targets, its availability was recently expanded to every state except Wyoming and South Dakota.

Chevrolet Equinox EV

• Starting price: ​​$34,995
• EPA-estimated range: 307-319 miles

If you’re looking for an excellent bang for your buck, it’s hard not to like the Equinox EV. Its cheapest front-wheel-drive version is one of the longest-range electric SUVs on the road, offering 319 miles on a full charge, and Chevy says its 150-kilowatt charging capabilities can get you 77 miles of range in 10 minutes on a DC fast charger. To get the least expensive Equinox EV, look for the well-optioned base FWD LT trim, which comes with a suite of popular safety features, a 17.7-inch touchscreen, an 11-inch digital instrument panel and satellite radio. The options list may be worth a look, too, as GM’s much-lauded Super Cruise semi-autonomous hands-free driving system is available with the $3,355 Active Safety Package 3.

Toyota bZ4X

• Starting price: $38,465
• EPA-estimated range: 236 miles (for Limited trim only); 222-252 miles (estimated by Toyota)

Toyota’s bZ4X SUV offers a choice of single-motor FWD or dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrains, with a 71.4-kWh battery pack for FWD variants and 72.8-kWh battery pack for AWD versions. Official EPA range estimates for all but the top-level Limited trim for 2025 have not been announced at the time of writing, but Toyota says the bZ4X is good for 222-252 miles of range, depending on configuration, with the base FWD XLE rated highest. That’s a possible bonus for budget-conscious shoppers, as the FWD XLE trim is also the cheapest at $38,465. The bZ4X skews toward comfort over performance; with FWD, the bZ4X has 201 hp, while adding AWD bumps the power figure up slightly to 214 hp. The bZ4X’s charging capabilities also lag behind those of some competitors, which may make it more suitable as a second commuter car rather than a road tripper.

Ford Mustang Mach-E

• Starting price: $38,490
• EPA-estimated range: TBA for 2025; 240-320 miles (estimated by Ford)

Very little changes for the 2025 Ford Mustang Mach-E SUV aside from the inclusion of a more efficient heat pump for climate control as standard equipment and a repositioned gear shifter. Ford’s latest version of its BlueCruise semi-autonomous hands-free driving system also debuted as an optional upgrade for the model. The Mach-E’s least expensive Select trim features a single rear motor good for 264 hp and 387 pounds-feet of torque. While the Mach-E can get pricey fast (the top off-road-oriented Rally trim starts at $57,990), the base Select RWD clocks in at a far more frugal $38,490. Though we’re still waiting for official EPA figures to come out, Ford claims the Select offers a not-too-shabby 260 miles of range.

Hyundai Ioniq 6

• Starting price: $39,045
• EPA-estimated range: 240-342 miles

The Hyundai Ioniq 6 is a futuristic, streamlined sedan that’s also a great bang for your buck — and was named Cars.com’s Best Value EV two years in a row accordingly. It rides on state-of-the-art 800-volt battery architecture, and Hyundai claims it can go from a 10% state of charge to 80% in just 18 minutes on a 350-kW charger. To get the lowest possible price, you’ll need to select the SE Standard Range trim with single-motor RWD, which features a 240-mile range. It comes with a long list of standard equipment, ranging from driver-assist features like adaptive cruise control to Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and a heated, power-adjustable driver’s seat. Aside from the SE Standard Range, each trim offers dual-motor AWD as an option for an extra $3,500, though adding that does sacrifice some range.

Subaru Solterra

• Starting price: $39,915
• EPA-estimated range: 222-227 miles

Subaru’s twin to the Toyota bZ4X is almost just as affordable after a significant price cut for 2025, with its base Premium trim starting at just $39,915. The Solterra offers dual-motor AWD as standard, though, slightly undercutting the price of the least expensive AWD bZ4X. That base Solterra gets you the slightly longer 227-mile range, a total of 215 hp and 249 pounds-feet of torque, and a 72.8-kWh battery that Subaru claims is capable of charging from 10%-80% in just 35 minutes on a DC fast charger.

Kia Niro EV

• Starting price: $40,995
• EPA-estimated range: 253 miles

The Kia Niro EV is part of a line of electrified-only hatchbacks that also includes hybrid and plug-in hybrid versions, all of which received a full redesign for the 2023 model year. Kia’s left well enough alone since then, with its small SUV keeping its single-motor FWD layout, 64.8-kWh battery pack and 201-hp motor that achieves an EPA-estimated maximum range of 253 miles. To get the price listed above, buyers should look for the base Wind trim; the loaded trim is the Wave.

Nissan Ariya

• Starting price: $41,160
• EPA-estimated range: 205-289 miles

Nissan’s newest model added yet another affordable but likeable EV to its lineup, this time in compact SUV form. We were impressed with the Ariya’s tech and driving manners but were somewhat perplexed by its lack of a one-pedal driving mode. Price cuts for the 2024 model put it firmly on this list and addressed our main complaint with the Ariya — namely that its debut price wasn’t competitive in an increasingly crowded segment of EVs. For 2025, the Ariya’s base price only raised $180, but you do get standard wireless phone charging in exchange. The cheapest Ariya, priced at $41,160, is the Engage FWD trim with the smaller 63-kWh battery. While that trim only gets you 216 miles of range, you can always upgrade to the $45,760 Evolve+ FWD trim, which packs the larger 87-kWh battery and a maximum range of 289 miles.

Tesla Model 3

• Starting price: $43,880
• EPA-estimated range: 298-363 miles

Tesla’s entry-level sedan, the Model 3, finally got a subtle styling refresh for 2024 with a more angular appearance outside and zero stalks on the steering column. Its blinkers are now capacitive-touch buttons on the steering wheel, and you put the car in Reverse, Park or Drive via the single large touchscreen in the center of the dashboard or via a touch-sensitive strip on the ceiling by the rearview mirror. While those might be polarizing choices, the Model 3 remains one of the most affordable options for an EV. The base Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive variant packs the longest range of the model line at 363 miles, per the EPA.

Lexus RZ

• Starting price: ​​$43,975
• EPA-estimated range: TBA for 2025; 196-266 miles (estimated by Lexus)

Surprise! Bet you didn’t expect to see a luxe Lexus on this list. The 2025 Lexus RZ is surprisingly affordable, however, especially after Lexus debuted the RZ 300e as its new base variant for the 2024 model year. The single-motor, FWD RZ 300e offers the maximum 266-mile range for 2025, as well as 201 hp and 196 pounds-feet of torque. While official EPA figures aren’t out yet, Lexus’ own figures show that this upmarket take on the Toyota bZ4x/Subaru Solterra platform packs modest range specs like its downmarket brethren, but you only dip below 200 miles of range if you opt for the priciest RZ 450e Luxury AWD version.

More From Cars.com:

• Your Guide to EV Batteries: Premature Death, Range Loss and Preservation
• Leased and Used Electric Vehicles Now Qualify for Federal Tax Credits
• Here Are the New Electric Vehicles Planned by 2027
• Electric Cars With the Longest Range
• Which Electric Cars Are Still Eligible for the $7,500 Federal Tax Credit?
• What It Cost to Outfit 6 Homes With EV Chargers
• How to Find EV Charging Stations
• More EV News

Related Video:

Cars.com’s Editorial department is your source for automotive news and reviews. In line with Cars.com’s long-standing ethics policy, editors and reviewers don’t accept gifts or free trips from automakers. The Editorial department is independent of Cars.com’s advertising, sales and sponsored content departments.